Increasingly, building and facility owners are looking for money-saving ways to cool and heat various commercial settings, such as warehouses, offices, garages, restaurants, and more. Many ask about mini split air conditioners to find out if they’re the right choice for them.
Whether you're just starting in the buying process and need a little more information about what exactly a commercial mini split is, or if you know you want a mini split but don't know which brands to look for, this article has everything you need to know about commercial mini split air conditioners.
Use the links below to quickly access the sections of this article:
- What Is A Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner?
- Advantages Of Ductless Mini Splits
- When To Use A Mini Split In A Commercial Space
- When Not To Use A Mini Split In A Commercial Setting
- Finding The Right Commercial Mini Split
- Top Commercial Mini Split Brands
What Is A Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner?
Known for their high-efficiency cooling and, depending on the model, their heating, ductless mini split air conditioners are designed for climate control in specific rooms or "zones." They aren't self-contained like portable and window air conditioners but also don't require ducting like central HVAC systems do.
Mini-split systems are made up of a few different components:
- Outdoor Condensing Unit: Located outside of your building, the condenser pumps air through refrigerant lines that connect to the units inside of your space.
- Refrigerant Lines: Charged refrigerant lines connect the outdoor unit to the indoor unit or units inside of your building. Also known as line sets, they typically connect through a small hole in your wall.
- Indoor Air Handlers: Indoor units, or air handlers, are typically wall-mounted, though there are increasingly more ceiling-mounted, floor-mounted, and concealed options available. Cooled and heated air is released into your space through an indoor air handler.
Find Out More in Our Mini Split Air Conditioner Buying Guide
Advantages of Ductless Mini Splits
Ductless split system air conditioners are becoming increasingly popular due to some key advantages over other climate control solutions.
- Efficiency: Mini splits are efficient options for indoor temperature control. Federal requirements state that mini splits must have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2 (SEER 2) of at least 14.3 to be used in the United States. Many models feature Energy Star ratings that offer even more energy savings.
- Specific Room Comfort: A ductless mini split cools and heats only the rooms or "zones" that you want to be covered. If you need to cover just one room, choose a single-zone mini-split. For even more coverage, mini splits are available in multi-zone configurations that can cover two, three, and even four rooms using multiple indoor air handlers, all connected to a single outdoor condenser.
- Quiet Performance: Because their compressor is housed outside of your building, mini splits create less noise than many other air conditioning choices.
- No Ductwork Required: Since they don’t require ducting, you don’t have to worry about cleaning dirty ductwork or loss of performance and efficiency commonly associated with ducted units.
When To Use A Mini Split In A Commercial Space
There are several situations when a ductless mini-split may be a good idea for a commercial application.
Enclosing a Larger Space
Do you have a warehouse or other large industrial space that you are enclosing? Maybe to make some offices or to turn a section of your space into a breakroom? Instead of installing costly ductwork, a mini split is a great option for offering climate control to the area in an affordable manner.
Climate Control In A Workshop Or Warehouse
Whether you have a workshop or automotive garage or are a warehouse manager, you’ve probably had to find solutions to keep yourself and your employees comfortable from season to season. Instead of using portable heaters in the winter and fans to keep you from sweating it out in the summer, many ductless split system air conditioners can offer year-round climate control.
New Additions to Existing Facilities
Is it time for your business to expand? If you’ve found yourself growing and are adding to your building, using a mini split air conditioner in your new building is a great way to avoid the costly installation costs of new ducting and central air conditioning systems.
Restaurants and Bars
Restaurant and bar owners consistently find that mini split air conditioners are great options for keeping employees and patrons comfortable. From installing ductless systems on screened-in patios and decks to retrofitting existing buildings that lack ducting, a commercial mini-split is a great option for the hospitality and entertainment industry.
When Not To Use A Mini Split In A Commercial Setting
If you have a traditional ducted system, like central heating and air, it’s typically recommended that you don’t install a mini split in your space. Even if your current central system dies, it's typically more cost-efficient to replace it with a more efficient traditional system than to install a ductless option.
Learn More About Ductless Mini Splits vs. Central Air Conditioners
Finding The Right Commercial Mini Split
Unlike other air conditioner options, you won't find a mini split that says commercial in its name. Choosing the right mini split for your business depends on knowing the square footage of the space you're trying to cool and then choosing a unit with the appropriate number of BTUs for your area. Use the graphic below to match your room size to the appropriate level of power for your space.
Covering Single Rooms
For large single rooms like a warehouse, you’re going to want a mini split that features a powerful single air handler that’s capable of a lot of BTUs. A single-zone mini split that’s capable of BTUs of 24,000 BTUs and more is going to be able to cover spaces 1,500 square feet and up.
Covering Multiple Rooms
It gets a little more complicated when you're looking to cool and heat multiple rooms, such as offices, restaurants, and other multi-room venues.
You’re going to want to go with a multi-zone mini-split, but first, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions:
- The Number of Rooms: How many rooms do you want to cover? This will help determine whether you need a dual-zone, tri-zone, or quad-zone mini split.
- Room Size: How large are the individual room sizes? Knowing room size ensures you select options that have the right indoor air handlers for your space.
For example, if you're looking to cool and heat three offices that are all around 500 square feet in size, you would need indoor air handlers that provide 12,000 BTUs of power. In this case, you would choose a model that features three 12,000 BTU air handlers, all connected to a 36,000 BTU outdoor condenser.
The key point to remember is that multi-zone mini splits are available in a variety of configurations, but when you add up all of the BTUs of each indoor air handler, they must match the maximum BTUs that the outside condenser can create.
Top Commercial Mini Split Brands
There are many mini-split brands available on the market today, and it can be a little overwhelming to find the right one for your space. We’ve been in the indoor air quality business for a long time here at Sylvane, and the following brands are some of the most popular options with our customers thanks to their quality construction and extended warranties.
Friedrich
One of the leading manufacturers of indoor comfort solutions, Friedrich Mini Splits is consistently among our site's highest-rated products. They're known for their ease of use and ultra-efficiency, making them the perfect choice for use in commercial settings.
The Friedrich 36,000 BTU Floating Air Select Mini Split with Electric Heat is capable of covering a room as large as 2,000 square feet with an even flow of cool or warmed air depending on the season.
Mitsubishi
With their high-efficiency ratings, single-zone and multi-zone options, and wall-mounted and floor-mounted configurations, Mitsubishi and its selection of ductless mini splits offer plenty of choices for finding the right model.
MRCOOL
Most mini splits require professional installation by a certified HVAC professional. With a selection of do-it-yourself options, the ability to avoid having to call in outside help is what makes MRCOOL a popular choice for Sylvane customers.
For large-space cooling and heating that you can quickly set up yourself, consider the powerful MRCOOL DIY 24,000 BTU Energy Star Mini Split Heat Pump with Smart Controller which is perfect for use in warehouses and garages.
Pioneer
Many Pioneer Mini Splits come equipped with everything an HVAC professional needs to set up your new air conditioner. There's no need to source and pay for line sets and other necessary components; it's all right there in the box.
If you have a workshop or other large open commercial/industrial setting, take a look at the Pioneer 36,000 BTU 230V Mini Split Heat Pump that’s able to cool and heat rooms up to 1,200 square feet in size.
Senville
Quickly becoming one of our customers most popular options, Senville Mini Splits features long warranties of up to seven years, ensuring that your investment will continue to deliver for years to come.
The Senville Leto 24,000 BTU Mini Split Heat Pump is a great choice for cooling, heating, and dehumidifying rooms as large as 1,500 square feet making it suitable for use in bars, restaurants, and more.
Still Have Questions?
For more information on ductless mini-splits and other indoor air treatment solutions for your commercial space, shop our products and visit our Knowledge Center. Not sure what's best for you? We can take the guesswork out of decision-making. Contact our product experts toll-free at 1-800-934-9194. We want to help you make your indoor environment a healthy one.
